Delhi Man ‘Forced To Sell' Range Rover For ‘Peanuts' After New Diesel Vehicle Rule

News18

a day ago

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The Delhi government has imposed a ban on the refuelling of end-of-life vehicles to combat pollution.
Petrol pumps across Delhi have now stopped refuelling end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, following orders from the Commission for Air Quality Management. While the move is aimed at curbing vehicular pollution in the city, it has also created serious challenges for many four-wheeler owners, especially those with well-maintained older vehicles.
One such case is that of Delhi resident Ritesh Gandotra, who was forced to part ways with his diesel-powered luxury SUV. Gandotra owned an eight-year-old Range Rover that had been carefully preserved, having clocked only 74,000 km since purchase. The car remained parked for two years during the Covid lockdown and, according to him, still had over 2 lakh km of potential life left.
In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandotra expressed his frustration, stating that due to the 10-year diesel vehicle ban in the National Capital Region (NCR), he had no choice but to sell the car at a throwaway price, and only to buyers outside the NCR.
Gandotra also called out the addition of 45 per cent GST charges upon buying new vehicles, calling it a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense.
While Gandotra has now deleted the post, it was not before social media users shared their reactions. Many supported his stance on the policy, while others urged the government to adopt a more practical policy instead of such limits.
One wrote, 'This rule of banning old cars in Delhi needs some changes… No one seems happy there, and even outside… I too feel it is bad unless govt do something like giving good money for old cars or less or no taxes for old car owners who want to buy a new car.. Something should be done."
This comes at a time in a larger section of internet users have been calling out any government decision to ban old vehicles. 'We pay EMIs for 7 years, maintain the car like family, use it for barely 10 years… And then? The government says, 'Scrap it.' No check. No resale. No value. Just crushed—like our savings and dreams," a comment read.
My friend from Delhi just called me he was crying. 💔 Today his 10 year old diesel car, loved like a family member, is banned. No fuel. No mercy. Cameras will scan it, fines will fall, it could be towed like trash.He maintained it like his own blood. That car carried their…— DANISH MEHR (@DANISH__MEHR) July 1, 2025
In a similar instance, Varun Vij, an owner of a Mercedes-Benz ML350, was also forced to sell his car for just Rs 2.5 lakh due to the new rule. Another story of a man who sold his old diesel car, which he loved like a family member, has also added fuel to the ongoing discussions.